Medical authorities have linked cases of listeriosis in California and 10 other states to a processing plant in Bakersfield that prepackages caramel-coated apples.
The outbreak of listeriosis caused the death of at least three people and sickened 32 people across 11 states, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The plant is owned by a company called Bidart Bros., who issued a voluntary recall of all Granny Smith and Gala apples still available. The last apple shipment from the plant went out Dec. 2.
"As a family-owned grower operating in California since the 1930s, we place safety at the forefront of everything we do. Our hearts go out to all who have been impacted by the apple-related listeriosis outbreak," said company president Leonard Bidart.
Listeriosis is a sickness caused by a bacteria called listeria. It's an infection that mostly affects seniors, pregnant women, newborn babies, and people with weaker immune systems. Symptoms of the infection include fever, muscle aches, headache, confusion and convulsions.
A number of caramel apple brands also issued recalls. Among these brands is Happy Apple, Kroger and California Snack Foods. While most of the illnesses appear to be linked to eating caramel apples, the FDA has warned consumers to ask retailers if Bidart Bros. supplied apples they purchased.
The states where illnesses and deaths were reported include Arizona, California, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. It is unclear how many of the three listeriosis-related deaths are linked to the plant.
In Minnesota, caramel apples linked to the plant were sold through Cub Foods, Kwik Trip and Mike's Discount Foods. These retailers carried caramel apples from Carnival and Kitchen Cravings. Both of these brands are no longer available for purchase at retail stores.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has also identified two cases of listeriosis in Canada. These cases have the same DNA fingerprints as the cases in the U.S. Despite the similar DNA fingerprint, the source of the bacteria in Canada has not yet been confirmed.
Listeria can live in food-processing plants regardless of cold temperatures. While it can live in things like refrigerators, it is killed by being cooked. It can also be found in soil and in certain animals, such as poultry and cattle.
Another listeriosis outbreak linked to cantaloupes took place in 2011. In that outbreak, 33 people were killed and 146 were sickened across 28 states. In 2012 there was another outbreak linked to a brand of ricotta cheese imported from Italy. This outbreak caused the death of four people and the infection of 22.
